on
May 22, 2013 in
Asia Expat
Okinawa is an island chain south of mainland Japan. One of Japan’s 47 prefectures, its name literally means ‘rope in the open sea.’ Nothing could be more appropriate to describe it. It’s a chain of 160 islands that stretches 550 kilometers from Japan to Taiwan, and only about 40 of those islands are inhabited. The
on
May 5, 2013 in
Asia Expat
Ramen is a popular Japanese dish of Chinese origin that consists of skinny yellow wheat noodles in a thick, creamy broth with various toppings. The broth is usually meat based (although it can be fish based as well) and toppings include thickly sliced pork, dried seaweed, boiled eggs, and vegetables. In Western countries, we know
on
April 20, 2013 in
Asia Expat
Chiba is an eastern suburb of Tokyo and the home of its Narita Airport and Disneyland (both named after Tokyo even though they’re in Chiba). It has wide open spaces, sandy coastline, and lots of local character. Aside from Disneyland, Chiba has a great deal to offer in terms of family fun. Kamogawa Sea World
on
April 2, 2013 in
Asia Expat
Between Ueno and Okachimachi Stations on the Yamanote train line is a narrow shopping street where you can find goods of all shapes and sizes and a unique atmosphere. The street is called Ameya Yokocho and it’s Japan’s most popular shopping street. Ameya Yokocho has five hundred stores and what may seem like a million
on
March 18, 2013 in
Asia Expat
For just a couple of weeks during the spring, the park by my house is completely transformed from green to a vibrant shade of white-pink. It’s as dramatic as a snowstorm or typhoon but much more pleasant. Then, about a week later, it’s all gone and the park is back to its usual spring colors.
on
March 4, 2013 in
Asia Expat
There’s a bit of confusion about Japanese sake. In Japan, the term is actually used to refer to all alcohol, whether beer, wine or spirits. In the West, it means any kind of alcohol from Japan. This creates confusion because there are actually two types of native Japanese alcoholic beverages – nihonshu, or rice wine,
on
January 2, 2013 in
Asia Expat
Gagaku is Japan’s ancient court music and it’s the world’s oldest orchestral tradition. The word gagaku literally means something akin to ‘elegant music’ or ‘ethereal music,’ and it lives up to the name with its slow, hypnotic tempo and eerie timbres that suggest ancient ritual and contemplation. The elegant music Gagaku dates from the Heian
on
December 27, 2012 in
Asia Expat
Of the film adaptation of Kobo Abe’s novel Woman in the Dunes, movie critic Roger Ebert said, ‘There has never been sand photography like this (no, not even in Lawrence of Arabia).’ He was talking about the bleak and eerie dunes of Tottori, where the movie was filmed. They’re called Tottori Sakyu Sand Dunes, a
on
December 11, 2012 in
Asia Expat
The end of year holidays are huge in Japan, but Christmas is not the centerpiece. Instead, it’s the New Year. New Year’s Day is the most important holiday in Japan and it is celebrated in a mix of Shinto, Buddhist, and modern traditions. The meaning of the New Year The New Year in Japan is
on
November 5, 2012 in
Asia Expat
Only 50 miles west of Tokyo is a mountainous hiking spot full of mountain vistas, quiet forest, and historical interest. It’s a part of Fuji Hakone Izu National Park called Hakone. A hiking trip to Hakone starts at the bustling gates of Shinjuku Station. An hour after passing through the busy gates, you’re on a 